ImaginativePRO Blog

FACEBOOK TO GENERATE A 28.6% SHARE OR $1.056 BIL IN U.S. MOBILE DISPLAY AD REVS IN 2013, GOOGLE NO 2 WITH A 19.6% SHARE

 

Mobile advertising will reach $7.29 billion in 2013, and Google will take a 54.66% share or $3.984 billion of it.  Facebook will take a 28.6% share of U.S. mobile display ads or $1.056 billion in 2013, but Google will dominate U.S. mobile ad search advertising with a 93.35% share.

Following explosive entrances by Facebook and Twitter to the marketplace, as well as a strong performance from Google, US mobile advertising spending grew 178% last year to $4.11 billion, according to a new forecast by eMarketer, and spending is expected to rise a further 77.3% to $7.29 billion in 2013.

That’s a nearly fivefold increase in spending since just 2011, and includes ad dollars spent on display, search and messaging-based formats served to all mobile devices, including tablets. By 2017, eMarketer projects US advertisers will devote $27.13 billion to mobile—just under 45% of all digital ad spending and 13.8% of total media ad spending that year.

U.S. Mobile Ad Spending - In Billions of Dollars - Years 2011 through 2017 - eMarketer - March 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Based on year-end reporting from several major mobile publishers—along with estimates from other research firms; consumer mobile usage trends; and eMarketer interviews with executives at ad agencies, brands, mobile ad publishers and other industry leaders—eMarketer revised its estimate for 2012 spending only slightly upward from the previous forecast in December 2012.

While top-line figures were relatively unchanged since the previous forecast, there were some small adjustments in market share and revenues for some of the larger players following Q4 results.

U.S. Net Mobile Ad Revenues by Company - In Billions of Dollars - Years 2011 through 2015 - eMarketer - March 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Google, thanks to its dominance of the mobile search market and strong showing in mobile display, is by far the largest player in the space with 93.3% of US net mobile search ad dollars going to the company last year. Overall, more than half of total US mobile ad revenues will go to Google this year, and its share will grow by nearly 3 percentage points by 2015.

U.S. Mobile Internet Search Ad Revenues  by Company - In Billions of Dollars - Years 2011 through 2015 - eMarketer - March 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

eMarketer believes further mobile monetization of YouTube will contribute the lion’s share of incremental growth to Google’s mobile display revenues, while search ad revenues will continue to rise rapidly.

Facebook, the No. 2 mobile ad publisher in the country, accounted for 9.5% of mobile ad revenues in 2012 and is expected to take 13.2% this year. In the mobile display market, however, Facebook is on top, projected to grab nearly three in 10 dollars this year. eMarketer revised Facebook’s share of US mobile display advertising ad revenue upward by several percentage points after fourth quarter results came in higher than previously expected.

U.S. Net Mobile Internet Ad Revenue Share by Company - By Percentage Share - Years 2011 through 2015 - eMarketer - March 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Google and Pandora round out the top three mobile display slots, with Twitter—whose figures were also significantly increased in the new forecast—making a strong showing in fourth place. The microblogging service took in 7.3% of net US mobile display ad revenues in 2012, the first year it offered such ads.

Both Facebook and Twitter have benefited from their use of so-called native ad formats that are seamlessly integrated within the core user experiences of their respective products. The resulting ability for both companies to deliver mobile ad impressions at much higher volume than many traditional ad publishers has helped them capture market share very quickly.

The most significant adjustment in the new forecast is a downward revision to Millennial Media’s mobile display ad revenues and market share for 2012 through 2015. The company’s traffic acquisition costs (TAC) paid to partners and ad publishers are not expected to fall in the next few years, as eMarketer previously believed. Millennial will take an estimated 2.8% of US mobile display revenues this year, excluding TAC. Apple will come in slightly higher at 6.3%, eMarketer estimates.

COMMENTARY:    Facebook appears to be making all the moves necessary to become a powerhouse in desktop and mobile advertising.

• April 11, 2012 - In advance of its $100 billion IPO scheduled for mid-May 2012, Facebook announced that it had acquired photo sharing app Instagram for $1 billion, the largest acquisition ever for Facebook, giving Facebook a strong foothold in the mobile market.  Photo-sharing is a huge driver of user engagement on Facebook, so the acquisition gave Facebook access to 27 million Instagram users and another feature that would improve the overall user experience for its users and increase Facebook stickiness.
• September 19, 2012 - I informed my readers that Facebook had beta launched a mobile ad network.  
• December 15, 2012 - Facebook officially launches Facebook Timeline, in a move to increase Facebook stickiness.   Timeline was announced in September on stage at the f8 conference, and it might be the most ambitious feature Facebook has introduced since the News Feed. The feature exchanges your profile page for a scrapbook-inspired list of your history on Facebook, telling the story of your life in a collection of photos, status updates and more.
• February 28, 2013 - Announced the acquisition of Microsoft's Advertiser Suite for a reported $100 million, a move to improve its advertising analytics.
• March 3, 2013 -  Facebook rolled out "Graph Search" that gives users answers to their Facebook searches, not links like Google.  Facebook first introduced Graph Search on January 16, 2013.  Graph Search underwent a slow beta-test, and finally rolled it out to everybody in March.  This represents a bold strategic move by Facebook to grab a share of the $3.6 billion U.S. mobile search ad market, and pit itself against Google, the dominant player in mobile search advertising with a 93.3% market share.  Facebook already dominates the global desktop search market.
• March 21, 2013 - The Wall Street Journal announced that Facebook would be adopting hashtags (#), one of the hallmarks of microblogging giant Twitter, as a way to improve its search engine results and increase Facebook's stickiness with users.
• March 13, 2013 - After a beta period lasting a couple of months, Facebook officially launched Facebook Ad Exchange (FBX) in September 2012, which makes the social networking giant’s inventory available to real-time bidding (RTB) and retargeting.  Through Facebook Exchange, advertisers and agencies have been able to use cookie-based targeting through Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) to reach their audience on Facebook with more timely and relevant messages. For brands and agencies, the result is a powerful tool for driving direct response goals on Facebook. We caught up with Scott Shapiro, product marketing manager for Facebook Exchange, to learn more.
• March 14, 2013 - VentureBeat revealed that Facebook is planning on adding video ads to a users newsfeed.   Facebook is hoping to grab a share of the rapidly expanding online video advertising market space, which is expected to reach $4 billion in 2013, an increase of more than 40 percent over 2012.  As soon as July, according to some reports, Facebook will be rolling out 15-second video ads right in your news feed. You’ll only see one video ad from one company a day, but the positioning right in your news feed — and the fact that they may be autoplay ads– makes it a risky move.  That’s very different than Facebook’s existing video ad proposition, as Wired notes, which is on brands’ own product pages.  News Corps' Rupert Murdoch predicts that Facebook runs the risk of becoming another MySpace because ads in a users newsfeed run the risk of becoming too disruptive.
• March 19, 2013 - Facebook announced that it was offering advertisers another tool to target consumers on the platform with Lookalike Audiences, a feature that lets them reach users similar to those in their Custom Audience databases.  Lookalie Audiences, which Facebook began beta-testing in February, and will launch this week as a targeting option on the social network’s power editor, allowing advertisers to reach out to potential customers with similar characteristics to their current customers.   Facebook launched Custom Audiences in the fall of 2012, which allowed brands to show ads to their current customers who were on the social network. Lookalike Audiences extend this ability to other Facebook users with similar attributes.  Both Custom Audiences and Lookalike Audiences work off hashes, which are bits of text that uniquely identify data (such as an email addresses) but are designed to protect against reverse engineering that would reveal those data, so no customer information is shared with advertisers or any third parties.
• March 23, 2013 - Facebook announces personalized ads based on behavioral targeting using third-party data intelligence and analytics. Facebook formed partnerships with data intelligence and analytics vendors Epsilon, Acxiom, and Datalogix which could have a large impact on the retail world.
• April 7, 2013 - Facebook unveiled "Facebook Home," a mobile app which loads when you start your phone, and replaces your regular startup display menu of app icons.  "Home" gives existing Android phones a total Facebook makeover, transforming both lock and home screens into immsersive, edge-to-edge slideshows of photos and status updates.  Home was a move by Facebook to create a "Facebook phone" without actually having to produce its own phone.  This would allow it to compete in the Android and iOS smartphone market and a bigger chunk of the mobile ad dollars.   However, in a blog post dated May 16, 2013, I told readers that Home was "officially a failure."  Brand marketers and users had mixed doubts and expectatons about Home.  In the end, Home was simply too disruptive.  With an average 2.3 star rating and a 1 million+ installs from a social network with a user base of 1.1 billion active users, the app is not what you’d call a smash hit.  In fact, it never came anywhere close to ranking in the Top 25 (barely reaching the Top 100 only) according to Google Play.
• April 12, 2013 - Facebook unveils "Emoticons," emotional "smiley" icons that improves "Likes" and opens the doors to "Dislikes."  The move is obviously geared to improve user engagement and increase Facebook stickiness.

In a blog post dated May 9, 2013, I commented on the rumored acquisition of the Israeli-based developer of Waze, a social GPS mapping and traffic reports mobile app with 40 million users. This acquisition, if successful, will allow Facebook to fill a gap in its mobile offerings and effectively compete against Google Maps , Microsoft's Bing Maps and Apple Maps, by keeping its users from leaving Facebook for mapping help.    

Courtesy of an article dated April 3, 2013 appearing in eMarketer 

GOOGLE+ GETS NEW LOOK: MORE BEAUTIFUL, SLICKER AND MORE INTUITIVE, ROLLS OUT AHEAD OF FACEBOOK 'NEW LOOK' LAUNCH

 

Google+ has rolled out new features for its profile and pages, including a "Local" reviews tab and larger cover photos, one day ahead of Facebook's big News Feed announcement.

WHAT'S NEW - Bigger profile page cover photos

Google+'s new look includes profile pages with larger cover photos like this one of my homepage sporting a cover photo of Rio de Janeiro (Click Image To Enlarge)

WHAT'S NEW - Bigger, brighter and higher aspect photos and videos

Google+'s new look also displays video's in larger, more colorful, brighter and higher aspect ratios frames (Click Image To Enlarge)

The company announced in a Google+ post on Wednesday that users will gradually start to see some new features added throughout the social network. Among the changes is a new tab for local reviews — a move in line with Google's efforts to expand local search across its platforms.

WHAT'S NEW - Two home page layout options

Google+'s homepage provides a Pinterest-like mosaic or columnar views showing updates plus Community Invitations and Upcoming Events and your Connections on the right border (Click Image To Enlarge)

WHAT'S NEW - Hidden menu bars

Menu's are hidden (above)

Google+'s new look include menu's that are hidden. Moving the mouse cursor to the Home or G+ icon displays the hidden menu (above) - Click Images To Enlarge

Similar to photos and +1 buttons, users will be able to highlight reviews and favorite restaurants (This option can also be hidden via the settings button).

Members will also start to see larger cover photos with a better aspect ratio. Now, cover photos display 2120 pixels by 1192 pixels at a 16:9 ratio when fully expanded.   Google said.

"This way more images can be used as cover photos, and there’s more room for your selection to shine."

WHAT'S NEW - Hangouts enhancements

Google+'s new look includes Hangouts that are airing plus the Full Schedule of hangouts (Click Image To Enlarge)

WHAT'S NEW - #HASHTAGS have been added to user updates

Google+'s new look now includes #HASHTAGS in updates to improve searches (Click Image To Enlarge)

The company is also making it easier for users to edit information via the About tab, which now includes options to edit Education, Work, Links and Places. You can still share specific fields with certain circles or keep them private.

To see if your page has gotten the updates, click here.

What do you think of the updates? Let us know in the comments.

COMMENTS:   On Thursday, I was very busy working on a project, and did not have time to access Google+ until very late in the evening.  When I saw the new Google+ look, it just blew me away. It's beautiful, simpler, slicker and more intuitive than the previous look. Google+'s new design offers bigger, brighter and higher aspect ratios for images and videos, hidden menu bars, and the addition of #hashtags.  Love the addition of #hashtags to updates.  This will greatly improve Google searches.  In my opinion Google+ makes Facebook look really, really boring.

If you missed it, or are not a Google+ user yet, here are some of the changes rolled out on Thursday:

• More “Pinteresty” look:  Content updates now appear as boxes.  If you share an image or video, they take up a lot of space in each box, making such visual content more prominent. See image above.
• Multi-column layout:  Depending on the screen resolution and type of device you’re using, you may see a one column, two column or three column layout.  It’s what is known as “responsive design” and considered a best practice in our world of mobile and other sized devices.
• Left menu slides out, top navigation bar “sticks”:  The menus and navigation are there for you as and when needed. They don’t disappear as you scroll down the page and they don’t take up precious screen space.  The gigantic cover (header) images that quite a few users do not care for, go up out of the way.
• Related hashtags:  Related hashtags are a new feature that you can use to tag your content so that readers can find related topics.  And here’s an interesting bit:  Google will actually tag your content with hashtags for you.  You can remove the Google-placed hashtags if you wish and just use your own.
• Hangouts get improvements:  Google’s videoconferencing app, Google Hangouts, got substantial upgrades. Google  launched a standalone version of Hangouts that works across Android, iOS and your computer. It makes hangouts more functional for making quick video calls. See the video below for more about these changes.
• Photos get more storage, smarter features:  Google+ will “with your permission… automatically back up your mobile pics as you snap them.”  Resized images get free unlimited storage. Google+ will help you highlight the best images, by de-emphasizing blurry images and duplicates.  There’s also Auto enhance, which can “improve brightness, contrast, saturation, structure, noise, focus… and dozens of other factors automatically.”

Courtesy of an article dated May 16, 2013 appearing in Mashable and an article dated May 16, 2013 appearing in Small Business Trends

IT'S OFFICIAL: FACEBOOK HOME APP IS A FAILURE, DOWNLOADS STALL AT SLIGHTLY OVER 1 MILLION, APP REVIEWS ARE PITIFUL

"Dude, this Facebook Home app really sucks!"

It has only been a month since Mark Zuckerberg introduced his company's new "Home" mobile software, but it's already looking like a failure. 

Facebook Home, the Android app that turns your smartphone into a social portal, has garnered poor reviews on the Google Play store. Home has a two-star rating, with over half of the 17,000-plus reviews having one-star ratings. The app has also sold poorly; it took close to a month to reach one million downloads at the Play store, which is mediocre considering the fact that Facebook has 1.1 billion active users.

Facebook Home app screenshots (Click Image To Enlarge)

To make matters worse, BGR is now reporting that AT&T will soon be dropping the Android-based HTC First, the first official "Facebook Phone," which was just introduced at the start of April. 

According to BGR's inside sources, sales of the HTC First have been so horrible that AT&T will discontinue the HTC First and return unsold inventory to HTC. Despite a drastic price reduction to $0.99 with a two-year contract from $99, AT&T reportedly only shifted a miserable 15,000 units of the HTC First in the US last week.  Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S4 -- and even the HTC One -- far outsell the first Facebook-branded phone. 

The problem for Facebook, Enders Analysis mobile analyst Benedict Evans told Businessweek, is that Home was too disruptive for customers used to the Android interface. 

Evans said.  

"One of the big complaints from users was that Home upended the traditional Android environment with its widgets and app folders.  Those all disappeared when you installed Facebook Home."

And why did Facebook not realize the importance of widgets, docks, and app folders to Android users? TechCrunch reports that it could be because many of the company's Facebook Phone testers are normally iPhone users. Since iPhones typically do not feature widgets, for example, the Facebook Phone testers thus could not see the problems with the changes made by Home that would affect the Android experience. 

Despite the less-than-enthusiastic response to the app thus far, Facebook says it is standing behind Home. 

During its May 1, 2013 earnings conference call with stock analysts, Zuckerberg said that the Home app will be updated every month. He said.  

"This product is still very early and this is just a first release in a long journey." 

Also, the HTC First is perhaps not quite dead in the water. After BGR's report on its imminent demise, CNET said that AT&T has yet to make a call on dropping the First. 

An insider source told CNET. 

"I am not aware of any discussion ever taking place about sending the phones back or to stop selling the First."

HTC and Facebook have both declined to comment on whether the First will live on, but an AT&T spokesman said.

"We have made no decisions about future plans."

COMMENTARY:    Home, the free Android app, which hogs your phones display at startup, hit half a million installs a week after it launched on April 12, 2013.   It passed the 1-million installations mark on Google Play late last week, but, as the app store’s installation graph shows, the popularity of the app has largely declined after the initial spikes in mid April.

Facebook Home Download Rankings - Apr 14, 2013 through May 12, 2013 - Final Rank Of 333 - Google Play Store (Click Image To Enlarge)

Home is hardly compatible with every Android phone out there — it’s currently only available for the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S IV, Samsung Galaxy Note II, HTC One, HTC One X and HTC One X+ and comes pre-installed on the HTC First — but with an average 2.3 star rating and a million+ installs from a social network with a user base of 1.1 billion active users, the app is not what you’d call a smash hit.  In fact, it never came anywhere close to ranking in the Top 25 (barely reaching the Top 100 only) according to Google Play.

 The Facebook Home app had 17,310 user reviews as of May 16, 2013 and averaged 2.3 stars, but 9,085 of the reviews were for only 1 star (Click Image To Enlarge)

Insights from app analytics services like App Annie and Distimo. App Annie’s data suggests that while Home quickly rose in popularity soon after its launch — reaching the top 100 on the Google Play charts in countries like the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa and Brazil — it quickly lost its place as the month progressed.  While it varies from country to country, Facebook Home isn’t even continuing its streak in its home nation — it is currently ranked 211 in Google Play, while it holds even lower positions in countries like Brazil, where it has slipped down to position 401 in the app rankings. Home hasn’t been able to return to the top 100 mark in any country as yet.

Facebook Home app - Ranking Declines by Selected Countries on May 8, 2013 since April 24, 2013 - Distimo (Click Image To Enlarge)

Facebook Home App Worldwide Popularity Map - Based On Top 500 Apps - Distimo (Click Image To Enlarge)

In a blog post dated April 14, 2013, I informed my blog readers that brand marketers had mixed reactions and that Facebook users who downloaded the app were reacting to Facebook Home, and it wasn't a pretty picture.  

For an app that was only downloaded about a million times, this is a major disaster for Mark Zuckerberg.  He had hoped that by hogging an Android phone's display at startup, this would keep users logged into Facebook longer and that this would increase mobile user engagement and ad impressions.  What he didn't count on was that user's don't want this level of disruption and inconvenience to their enjoyment of the Facebook experience.  

Sorry, Zuck, next time do a thorough market test before rolling out any new Facebook feature.

Courtesy of an article dated May 15, 2013 appearing in NASDAQ, an article dated May 13, 2013 appearing in Memeburn and the Facebook Home app page in Google Play 

50% OF MOTHERS WOULD ENGAGE WITH BRANDS ON FACEBOOK IF REWARDED, 81% WOULD BUY MORE IF BRANDS REWARDED THEM

 

Some 81% of moms would buy more from a brand if rewarded, and over 50% are willing to engage with a brand on Facebook and other social media platforms if provided incentive, according to a recent report by PunchTab.

What type of rewards do moms want? 80% of those polled said they prefer financial rewards, such free products or gift cards, and 67% said they would be interested in receiving perks associated with elite status, such as free shipping or branded merchandise.

Below, key findings from the report, Scoring Points With Mom, which was based on an online survey of 647 moms.

Actions for Rewards

Actions moms said they would take when provided with an incentive: 

• 72% would take a survey or poll.
• 59% would sign up for regular email updates.
• 41% would share personal details and purchase behavior.
• 41% would post a review.
• 57% of would "like" a brand's page on Facebook.

Over 50% of Moms Would Engage With Brands on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest - Scoring Points With Moms - PointTab - 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Financial Rewards

• 83% of moms polled said they would value free products and services from a brand.
• 82% would be interested in receiving gift cards from popular retailers.

% Of Moms Who Are Interested In Various Financial Rewards - Scoring Points With Moms - PointTab - 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

Non-Financial Rewards

• 39% of those polled would value incentives that offered them exclusive access to a brand, such as being able to buy new products ahead of the general public.
• Gamification strategies were less popular with moms. Only 6% percent would be interested in being rewarded with badges. 

% Of Moms Who Are Interested In Various Exclusive Access Or Experiences As Rewards - Scoring Points With Moms - PointTab - 2013 (Click Image To Enlarge)

About the research: The report was based on an online survey of 647 randomly sampled US moms age 18-44. It was conducted between April 18, 2013, and April 22, 2013.

COMMENTARY:   Mobile mothers in the US are an increasingly important demographic for marketers. According to BSM media, U.S. mums control $2.4 trillion in household purchases every year and wield greater influence over most everyday buying decisions. As avid users of digital media, mums are turning to smartphones to help organize their activities. Their ability to research purchases combined with their spending power gain marketers’ attention and provides a great opportunity for marketers to engage with mums in a personalised and highly interactive environment. 

These findings are from a report published by InMobi, the largest independent mobile advertising network - the research was developed in partnership with On Device Research. The report - U.S. Mobile Media Consumption Report for Q2 2012 reveals the unique trends on mobile media consumption among US Mobile mothers. 

Mobile Mothers Multi-Media Approach

Media consumption has evolved, along with smartphone adoption. On average, Mobile mothers are spending 10.1 hours daily with media. Mobile mothers spend 27% (2.7 hours) of daily media time with their mobile phone, which is on par with TV (28%), and outpaces other media like Internet (19%), Radio (14%), and Print (7%). Interestingly mums have started to embrace tablets and spend 6% of their media time there.

It is a known fact that mothers multi task across various activities between work, home and family. Research highlights that 77% of mobile mothers use mobile devices while watching TV. It’s no surprise that mums also multitask across a variety of media types including the smartphone, computer and tablet.

Marketing takeaway: Mums are connected 24/7 in the mobile media channel and marketers should be creating multiple mobile touch points to leverage the time taken by mums on the mobile media.

Mums Know Best

The demands of mobile mother’s fast-paced life have made her identify herself as an early adopter. Research shows that 48% of mom mobile web users in the US identify themselves as “Early Adopters”. She knows about the latest technologies and expects solutions that integrate apps, ads, and browser tools in smart and effective ways.

Marketing takeaway: Marketers will need to bring out value and convenience to impress the early adopters who seem to understand every bit of technology

Ease of Use & Availability Makes Mobile Mothers Addicted to Mobile Phones

Mobile mothers continue to contribute to the smartphone boom and are finding new ways to incorporate them into everyday life because of three convenience factors.  Findings shows that 67% of users prefer mobile because “it’s easy to use,” 66% say that they use mobile most because it’s constantly with them and 57% agree mobile device is a most private way to consume information and communicate. The report’s findings indicate that mobile mothers use their mobile device most in casual settings most often lying in bed (82%), watching TV (77%), or waiting for something (80%)

In short: Ease of use and availability rule the mobile mother’s media day

Marketing takeaway: Marketers should focus on rich media ads with highly interactive content available at the right time and easy to use

Mobile Mothers Love Their me-time

The mobile phone has become a constant companion to mobile mothers. It helps them indulge in small pleasures like music, entertainment, and gaming. The report’s findings indicate that mobile mothers spend 26% of their mobile media time on playing games, 19% interact with social media, 15% use it for entertainment purposes (videos, music) and 11% for general search. Further from the study it is found that E-mail, search and social media will continue to grow over the next year among mobile mothers

Marketing takeaway: For marketers, this is a real opportunity to engage with mums in brand conversations via games, social media and entertainment

Mobile Mothers Respond to Mobile Advertising

Mobile & TV ads have the largest impact on mobile mothers’ purchase process, with 62% of them saying their purchases are influenced by both these ads. Also, 58% of mobile mothers are comfortable with mobile ads. Mobile mothers reach to mobile at every stage of the purchase funnel. Right from research, purchases and making smart and informed shopping choices, mobile is always there as her shopping aid. Mobile tools impact her “moment of truth” choices at each stage. 

The survey showed that 56% of mobile mothers feel that mobile advertising have introduced them to something new; 42% feel that it had saved money and time. 18% of mobile mothers say mobile ads have influenced a purchase. The data also highlights the importance of location-based advertising, with 48% of respondents claiming that a mobile ad had helped them find something nearby while 27% said it had influenced a purchase decision in-store.

Marketing take away: Mobile Ads influences mobile mother’s decision process and marketers should engage mums across the purchase funnel mapping her media journey.

M-commerce Mobile Mother’s Popular Purchasing Platform in Coming Years

Mum is a more empowered shopper than ever. Mobile technologies give her tools to research, decide and buy seamlessly saving time, money and stress. Mobile mothers lead the pack in mobile spending, with 30% claiming to spend more than $50 via their mobile devices, compared to 27% of mobile Boomers and 23% of Generation M. InMobi’s research indicates that 80% of mobile mothers planned to conduct m-commerce activities within the next year.

Marketing take away: Mobile commerce has had a tremendous impact on driving mobile media consumption, and mums are no exception. Marketers should leverage the platform capabilities to serve context sensitive information and create immediate connections and trust

Conclusion

InMobi research claims that, with smartphones becoming indispensable entertainment tools and 88% of mobile mothers hooked on Facebook and other social media, it is clear that the current generation mums leverage technology for not only keeping in touch but also pay attention to how they interact with brands online. Marketers should consider campaigns extending across a variety of media platforms and engage mothers across channels and devices.

The boost in smartphones sales and the trust in using mobile content increasing every day directly relates to the growth in mobile content sales. Mums who are always connected, brand sensitive, have spending power, and are active on social media, are an important demographic who cannot be ignored. This gives a great opportunity for marketers to understand their needs, build trust and up the conversion rates.

The reality is mums have embraced mobile media in a big way. Are the marketers ready?

eMarketer concludes: “Reaching mum at the right time and place requires mobile. If you’re not there, you’re missing her.”

Is your brand reaching out to mums via mobile?

Note: * Mobile Mother Definition - Mobile Mother is defined as Women with children at home and is mobile data users

Courtesy of an article dated May 16, 2013 appearing in MarketingProfs and an article dated August 31, 2012 appearing in OnDevice Research

DOES GOOGLE GLASS HAVE A BRANDING PROBLEM? MARKETING EXPERTS MAP STEPS TO MAINSTREAM SUCCESS

Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin wears a pair of Google Glass AR glasses (Click Image To Enlarge)

Still in its test phase, Google Glass may be dorked to death before it gets the opportunity to take off. Here, marketing players from a range of agencies provide their assessment of Glass’s chances and some suggestions for paving the way to mainstream success.

Google’s much-hyped wearable computer, Google Glass, has been touted by the tech elite as one of the leaps forward of recent times, but those same elites may hobble mainstream adoption of the device.

While privacy concerns have blossomed (the device may be on its way to being banned at a number of locations), it may comfort those worried that we are all about to become spies for Google that the early adopters of Google Glass are helping to give it an image problem it might not recover from.

Technology venture capitalists Marc Andreessen, Bill Maris and John Doerr model Google Glass AR glasses (Click Image To Enlarge)

Marc Andreessen, a partner in the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, said, 

”You put it on and you’re like ‘Oh my God, I have the entire Internet in my vision. Where have you been all my life?’ ”

Kleiner Perkins venture capitalist John Doerr noted last month when unveiling Kleiner Perkins’ Google Glass-focused investment fund. 

"For paraplegics and quadriplegics, Glass could be a stunningly useful way to get information and interact with it."

The futuristic-looking headset can augment our everyday reality by putting data in our field of vision as well as allowing us to take pictures, and translating the spoken word on the move. But unfortunately, it also appears to have unintended contraceptive powers, as illustrated by this Tumblr featuring members of its decidedly unhip core fanbase.

Google CEO & Co-Founder Larry Page wears a pair of Google Glass AR glasses (Click Image To Enlarge)

It’s all very well having wearable technology that lets you livestream yourself hang gliding. But if it has all the sex appeal of orthodontic headgear, it’s unlikely to catch on. Google’s Glass Explorer program has put Google Glass in the hands and on the heads of developers and tech pundits who Google has selected to test it and have paid $1,500. Google chief executive Larry Page has indicated that the product won’t be in stores for about another year, by which time it may be hard to separate it from its association with tech fanatics.

Arguably, success in wearable technology hinges on making people look and feel good as much as providing a functional service. Developers might be happy to fork vast sums for the privilege of being a Google Glass owner, but when the product goes to mass market, fashion, or at least some sort of coolness and covetability will be as critical as functionality.

Tech pundit Robert Scoble wrote a glowing review about the augmented reality glasses and said, "I will never live a day without them." He then showed off a picture of himself showering while wearing the glasses.  Google co-founder Sergey Brin looking cool wearing a pair of Google Glass AR glasses onboard a bus (Click Image To Enlarge)

With this in mind, we asked five marketing experts: How would you position Google Glass to make sure it achieves mainstream success?

AFTER NAILING THE EARLY ADOPTERS, FOCUS ON LESS-EXPECTED APPLICATIONS.

Jinal Shah, digital strategy director, JWT New York

Google is embracing its influencers. Make no mistake though--they aren’t just going after the nerds. They are strategic in who they’ve invited to their Glass Explorers program, an influencer program that allows a handpicked group to use the first generation of Google Glass. Google has carefully curated a group of people who sit at the intersection of nerd and celebrity. For example, tech celebrity Soraya Darabi, among others. People like her not only bring their passion for technology but also their massive audiences (500K+ followers in the case of Soraya) into the conversation.

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and former mayor of San Francisco, tries the glasses on Current TV (Click Image To Enlarge)

There’s incremental innovation and there’s wow-your-pants-off innovation. Google Glass is in the latter category. We tried it on last week at Google and it was pretty amazing. Mainstream success will happen as it expands the breadth of its audience and also as its simplifies its technology. What we’ll end up with in a few years is just a tiny camera that we’ll be able to attach to any eyewear. To the broader point, wearable technology is the future. Making it as nerdy as possible at the outset is a smart strategic move to get those who will engage most with the glasses to develop their capabilities and advance them to a place of general adoption. It should be no surprise that Google has already developed a partnership with Warby Parker. The aesthetic will change over time, and this will be one of the many norms of wearable tech.

The Google Glass initial approach has focused on driving exclusivity in select communities. And they’ve nailed it. In the next stage, I’d focus on creating desire by introducing a library of plain interesting to bizarre applications of Glass. Think government, music, Hollywood, retail partnerships--maybe even an episode of Family Guy with Stewie touting Glass.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT NERDS.

Jonah Disend, CEO and Founder of Redscout

When we look at the challenge of extending Google Glasses out of nerdom, we believe that the challenge is first, one of execution and second, one of positioning and targeting.

• First, in terms of execution, Google Glasses inherently plays in two worlds--fashion and technology--and they haven’t created “cool kid” lust in either area.  It is neither an incredible fashion accessory that you would want to wear, nor is it a beautiful or obviously useful gadget that you would want to own.
• Second, in terms of positioning and targeting, today Google Glasses is seen as a barrier to social engagement as opposed to an enabler. While it may make your world more exciting and dynamic (as the promotional video might suggest), it does not currently enhance socialization nor have they shown how the value of the glasses increases with additional users (there is currently no clear Network Effect).

Now for our gross generalization about nerds versus everyone else. Nerds actively look to create barriers to protect them from the world, mitigate social engagement, and connect through virtual worlds (thinkWorld of Warcraft). In this context, Google Glasses are the ultimate tool for nerds to add a layer of protection between them and others and potentially seal the fate of Google Glasses as something that only the geekiest of the geeks would ever want to wear (or even own).

WORK WITH TRENDSETTERS.

Lloyd Salmons, Director of Digital, Saatchi & Saatchi London

I love Google. It gives me convenient access to a world of information and that’s something I want. I don’t love their glasses, because they don’t give me what I want. What I want is my glasses. If you’ve ever chosen a pair of glasses you’ll know how long it takes, how many opinions you seek, how many photos you’ve texted and images of celebrities you’ve looked at, be they fashion, sport or sunglasses. What I want is the Google I love, in the glasses I love. I want Google in my glasses.

Open APIs, products as platforms, and cocreation are the norm for tech companies. There is no way Apple or Android could have brought the level of innovation needed to create so many apps personalized to individual needs. Just because Google Glass is a physical product doesn’t mean Google should change the approach to creating the range of glasses needed to facilitate individual tastes.

To facilitate this, we’d build a platform allowing us to work with a range of individuals and the people who make their glasses. These people would range from well-known celebrities in fashion and sport, to everyday style leaders. The content generated across the journey from inception, build, and trial to launch would provide both broadcast content and ways to engage.

Google in Bradley Wiggins’s glasses: We follow the journey of Bradley and his glasses climaxing at the start of the Tour de France. Google in Elton John’s glasses: No one has more glasses than Elton John; he’s given us a hundred of his best to create a range of Google glasses and we’re going to find the perfect person for each of them. You get the picture. Google in P.Diddy’s glasses. Google in Sven Göran Eriksson’s glasses. Google in Victoria Beckham’s sunglasses.

If you try on anyone else’s glasses, you look like a nerd; that’s just a law of the universe. If you don’t believe me, try it. What I need is Google in my glasses.

IDENTIFY AND EMBRACE THE USAGE SWEET SPOT.

Brian Carley, SVP, Executive Creative Director, Rokkan

It’s a challenge, specifically because of the stigma that was quickly attached to them. Putting aside all flaws in its physical appearance, it would be ideal to tap into how people would realistically use them day to day. Very few people are going be wearing them ALL the time, but there are times when it would be useful to have a device such as this and also have complete use of your hands. We all assume that our mobile devices have no boundaries, but there are instances when we are apprehensive about having them on our person. I think that utilizing those moments is the sweet spot for this product. It’s a more useful Go-Pro and those are wildly popular within their specific usage, which is quite broad. There’s no real need for these beyond enjoyment, and so it would be wise to illustrate the truly hands-free experiences that surround the product beyond the dorkiness we’ve experienced already. At least they’re not as cumbersome as a Segway.

DON’T CHANGE A THING.

Bud Caddell, SVP, Director of Invention and Digital Strategy, Deutsch LA

Yes, white middle-aged men love Google Glass. Is it a problem? Of course not. Wearable tech has hardly fallen down Geoffrey Moore’s chasm. We’re seeing early adoption, and in tech (if we’re not counting Pinterest), white men from the Valley with disposable income tend to be first in, first out. And that didn’t stop iPads, laptops, or the mobile phone from reaching mass adoption. Yes, Robert Scoble in the shower is frightening. But take a breath. Google has already tapped Warby Parker, who I personally trust in putting things on my face, and I think Google Glass (in one iteration or another) is here to stay.

COMMENTARY:    

What Tech Guru's Are Saying About Google Glass

I am discounting by about 95% the positive comments made by most of the above technology pundits, expecially some of the above VC's in favor of what other technology pundits are saying:

Marcus Wohlsen, a tech reporter for Wired, on May 2, 2013, gave some hints that Google Glass could end in failure by making these comparisons: 

“The Segway. The Bluetooth headset. The pocket protector.”  

Rebecca Greenfield of The Atlantic, called the secret photo-taking application a “privacy nightmare,” and she also said:

“The Creepiest Google Glass App Is a Stalker’s Dream.” 

Jason Perlow of ZDNet wrote:

“Google Glass: Let the evil commence."   

Perlow also noted that in the “Explorer” version of Google Glass that shipped in early May to first generation of users,

"There is no recording LED indicator light on the device, so that one could stealthily record without any indication to the subject that they are being captured on-camera.”

Jason Zada, an award winning director, wrote on Twitter.  

 ”White Men Wearing Google Glass. This doesn’t make me want a pair.”

Another person simply wrote that Google Glass looks “lame.”

The Google Glass Is Banned List Grows

Privacy and security have become major concerns and as the list of concerned protesters continues to grow, we began to wonder: Where will we be most likely to see this Glass resistance moving forward?  This is a short list of businesses and places who will ban Google Glass:

• Movie theaters and concert venues - It's interesting to consider what Glass could do for film piracy and that annoying guy in front of you who waved his phone snapping photos through an entire two-hours concert. But these are two of the most obvious examples of places that traditionally prohibit cameras.
• Public schools - Or nurseries, or playgrounds. Really, anywhere with an influx of children is going to be a potential hotbed of legal headaches.
• Behind the wheel - The West Virginia legislators' attempt to ban Glass while driving will inevitably gain favor within other states, which will likely include many of the country's 39 states and Washington, D.C., where texting while driving is prohibited.
• Hospitals - Hospitals house boatloads of some of our most personal data, including medical records and insurance information. A stray paper or tilted clipboard could easily find its way into a Glass photo.
• Banks and ATMs - Similar to the hospital example, it's not unfathomable to imagine a Glass-clad someone hovering a little too close to your left shoulder to peep a glance at (not to mention a photo of) your credit card.
• Dressing rooms, locker rooms, and other rooms with people who are potentially naked - Think everywhere from department stores to your gym to strip clubs.

I might also add to the above list:

• Law enforcement - The police will absolutely hate Google Glass.  They don't want you recording their every move and what they say, because this could be used against them in court.
• Courts rooms - Court rooms often ban photographers from their court rooms, especially high-profile and controversial cases.  This is often necessary in order to protect the identity of the jurors and individuals making testimony.  
• Military bases - Any military personnel on military bases who enter or work in highly classified and secured areas will definitely be banned from wearing Google Glass. 
• Schools and colleges - Google Glass will definitely be banned from the classroom. Instructors will be weary of students who might use Google Glass to teach on tests.

On the other hand, I can definitely see immigration inspectors, airline security, law enforcement and even retailing establishments benefiting from Google Glass, in helping them identify criminals, security risks, people of interest and shoplifters before they commit crimes. Companies that want to protect their valuable intellectual property as a matter of practice will ban Google Glass.    

In my opinion, any technology that raises the high level of privacy and security concerns and could lead to consumer litigation potentially in the billions, has a huge PR image and this has the ability to permanently damage or destroy a brand.  This is what I see happening with Google Glass.  If Google wants to market Google Glass to the masses, they will have to severely limit or block its use in certain situations.  

Google needs to be careful that it does not damage its own brand reputation as the company whose motto is: "Don't Be Evil."   Google Glass has the potential to turn Google into the feared "Big Brother,"  that Steve Jobs warned us about when he tried to portray IBM as "Big Brother" in the famous TV commercial.  The company has to be very careful how they launch Google Glass. The company has a social responsibility to uphold (its motto) and it should not take us for granted.   The small cadre of tech geeks and very early adopters who now love and applaud Google Glass as the next big thing, may later learn to hate if they are not too careful.

I keep hearing that Google Glass represents the next evolution of the social network. Bringing the social network experience into the real world and sharing what we see and do with others.  Is this what Google (and Facebook) really wants?  God help us if this is where social networks are headed.  I don't want that kind of "social media experience" biting me in the butt, and I am sure you don't either.   Left to its own accord, without any controls, I believe that Google Glass crosses a line in the sand where our privacy is not only violated, but completely destroyed.  We lose our individuality as human beings, and we become an open book to anyone and everyone.

So keep in mind the old adage: "What goes around, comes around."       

Courtesy of an article dated May 15, 2013 appearing in Fast Company, an article dated May 4, 2013 appearing in CNN Tech, and an article date May 3, 2013 appearing in The New York Times Bits and an article dated May 15, 2013 appearing in VentureBeat

 

GOOGLE UNVEILS THE FACIAL RECOGNITION FEATURES OF GOOGLE GLASS, BUT LAWS TO PROTECT CONSUMER PRIVACY OR OUTRIGHT BANS WILL BE NEEDED

For those who wish they could better remember names and faces, a new demo app for Google Glass gives you notes on how you know each person.

Although the concept seems perfect for party or networking events, the app — called MedRef for Glass — was actually designed for hospital employees. By using facial recognition technology, staffers wearing Google's high-tech specs can pull up patient folders with photo, voice and text notes.

 

For example, a doctor might want to record that a certain patient likes to be rolled over on one side of their body or is allergic to nuts. And because the data is shareable with Google Glass, other nurses and physicians can have immediate access to this information.

The app was created by a team of computer programmers at a medical hackathon.

Here's how it works: MedRec adds timeline cards and sharing contacts via Google Glass. By saying a patient's name or taking a picture of their face, the device will bring up their records.

Lance Nanek, a computer programmer who worked to develop the app says. 

"Hospitals are full of very busy people — often with their hands full — who work with a lot of information.  Google Glass and making [data] wearable is especially being looked forward to there."

For a full look at how the app works, check out the video above.

Do you think Google Glass and its apps will revolutionize how we use technology across various fields, including the medical world? Let us know in the comments.

COMMENTARY:   So far Google Glass is not illegal, but some businesses have began posting "Google Glass Is Banned On These Premises" signs.  Despite a front page story appearing in the May 7, 2013 issue of the New York Times suggesting that Google is already facing a bunch of legal pushback over its face computer of the future, there are no laws on the books that make Google Glass illegal -- Yet.  

Click Image To Enlarge

A Los Angeles privacy lawyer tells the New York Times's David Streitfeld.

"This is just the beginning.  Google Glass is going to cause quite a brawl."

It's unclear how true that is, of course, because there hasn't been much actual courtroom brawling so far — mostly just Internet whining, really.

The New York Times cites a proposed bill from West Virginia statehouse politicians who "were not joking at all" about a ban on Glassing-while-driving. Except the bill seriously hasn't made it to the house floor yet. And while the New York Times cites the bill's sponsor in saying he's "likely" to reintroduce the legislation, well, Rep. Gary Howell has also said that he will introduce a study resolution to see how dangerous Google Glass really is. You know, in the meantime, and in the reality outside front-page privacy freak-out trend stories:

"If we do that, I would like to invite Google to provide a demonstration and explain if they will have some type of feature that will turn off everything."

Howell has said, in addition suggesting that he's open to other alternatives outside of the anti-Google Glass law.

But even if Howell takes his law back to the West Virginia state legislature and it passes, that hardly makes Google's new device illegal. After all, according to the New York Times,

"This is the most anticipated piece of electronic wizardry since the iPad and iPhone we're talking about here." 

And by the logic of the New York Times's scare tactics, cell phones would be considered illegal in all these states that ban use while driving. Even the group Stop the Cyborgs, which has launched an anti-Glass campaign, doesn't want to outright ban the devices.

"We don't want a total ban but do we want people to limit it's use."

the group insists (in bold), in the About section of its website. While other, logical places — like strip clubs, or casinos — have banned Google Glass, people don't necessarily need laws or formal prohibitions to tell them how to properly regulate their usage of the world's foremost walking computer.  Already a whole bunch of people have written about their inclination to have specific etiquette while using Google Glass. 

However, even Google admits that its much discuss hardware is still in beta — and that the company is open to changes to better suit our apparently myriad privacy fears. That's basically all the Stop the Cyborgs of the world want, anyway. The Cyborgs group has three main points suggesting ways in which Google can build in enough privacy to placate the interests of privacy hawks the tech world over:

• They will never allow any face recognition system or any app which automatically identifies people to work on Google Glass or on any server system connected to Glass.
• They will implement a do not track system which allows people to opt out of being tracked or having information captured about them by Glass. This system should not require the person to identify themselves.
• That all information gathered by Glass will remain the property of the owner or subject and will be encrypted so that it is impossible for it to be data-mined, made available to security services or used for commercial purposes.

Google chief Eric Schmidt sounds equally as open to those kind of changes himself. Schmidt said in response to a question about the scary future of data-tracking that Google will help create. 

"I think you're describing a world of tracking which I think is highly unlikely to occur, because people will be upset about it in the same way you are."  

He continues: 

"Governments won't allow it, and it'll be bad business. And ultimately, in a competitive market, companies want the consumers to be happy. So it's true tracking in this context...you're taking a much broader view of the word ['tracking'] than any I would use. A situation where you go to people and say, 'Oh, here's our phone, and we're going to track you to death,' people are not going to buy that phone. It's just a bad business model."

I am in total agreement with The Cyborgs group recommendations to limit how Google Glass can be used.  We certainly do not want automobile drivers to know the identity of random people by glancing at their vehicle plates.  Individuals have a right to their privacy and preventing the disclosure of their identity to the masses.  Google Glass' face recognition technology opens a can of worms that will become a legal nightmare for Google.  I understand that Google has over 100 attorneys on their staff.  They better get them ready for the onslaught of lawsuits that are likely to come if face recognition and private information about individuals is disclosed without permission.  

Courtesy of an article dated May 13, 2013 appearing in Mashable and an article dated May 7, 2013 appearing in The Atlantic Wire

HOW DRAWANIMAL, A CLEVER iPHONE/iPAD APP GETS KIDS TO DRAW ON PAPER AGAIN

Drawnimal is an iPhone and iPad app that gets kids thinking beyond the screen (Click Image To Enlarge) 

DRAWNIMAL TEACHES YOUNGSTERS THE ALPHABET WHILE EXERCISING THEIR IMAGINATIONS BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF THE IPAD’S SCREEN.

Drawnimal may be my new favorite iPad app, despite the fact that I’m about 25 years beyond its target demographic. It’s essentially an alphabet game in which each letter pulls up an associated animal (“A” is for alligator--you know the drill). But naturally, there’s a twist.

 

Players are asked to place the iPad on a blank piece of paper. With a pencil in-hand, they’re instructed to draw a somewhat anonymous shape around the iPad screen (Is that a tail? Are those ears?). And only when the drawing is finished do they see an on-screen portrait to complete the drawn picture, a green cartoon face coupled with a warm, grandfatherly voice that confirms, yes, the “A” really is for alligator. (Just resist the urge to scratch the alligator’s nose. He bites.)

It’s essentially an alphabet book in which letters are associated with animals (Click Image To Enlarge)

Players set their iOS device on a pad of paper. Then they draw around it to complete a portrait (Click Image To Enlarge)

Interestingly enough, the faces you see here are the reveal (Click Image To Enlarge)

I asked Drawnimal’s visual designer, Lucas Zanotto, why more apps don’t use the iPad as part of a greater mixed media experience? He thinks that “developers are often focused on the device itself.”

“Using touch screens as we do today is still seen as something new and advanced,” Zanotto explains. “So in wanting to get the most out of the device itself, we often forget the big picture.” And that big picture is precisely what Drawnimal wants kids to grasp by, quite literally, forcing them to think outside the box. Or at least the bezel.

To create that moment of surprise… (Click Image To Enlarge)

…you’re asked to draw an animal part before knowing what the animal is (Click Image To Enlarge)

You press a button for the reveal and… (Click Image To Enlarge)

SURPRISE! It’s an alligator. Scratch his nose and he bites (Click Image To Enlarge)

Download it here.

COMMENTRY:    I think kids are going to love this app, but I would rather see kids learn to draw from scratch.  I want to see how they think and view the world.   

Here's how the Drawnimal app works:

Click Images To Enlarge

Drawnimal features are as follows:

• Available for iPhone and iPad
• Over 30 different animated animals, with sounds
• Switch between 4 languages (EN, ES, FR, DE)
• Features the whole alphabet, with narration

Courtesy of an article dated May 6, 2013 appearing in Fast Company Design

LINKEDIN UNVEILS REDESIGN OF ITS SITE AND DEBUTS 'CHANNELS' IN REVAMP OF LINKEDIN TODAY NEWSFEED

Two years ago, LinkedIn launched LinkedIn Today, a digital newspaper that compiles stories from around the Web based on what a user’s connections and industry peers are reading. On Wednesday, the professional networking site unveiled a redesign of the news site with a refreshed look and a new content discovery feature called Channels.

Through Channels, people can follow more than 20 broader topic areas crossing over different industries, including Your Career, Economy, Social Impact, Big Ideas, Innovation, and Higher Education, with more to come over time. Once someone begins following a channel, they automatically get updates directly to their home page feed on the desktop.

Refreshed LinkedIn Today: Discover Content in Channels from LinkedIn

 

The revamped LinkedIn Today also incorporates the Influencer blog network the company introduced last fall. Along with channels, users can now also access tabs at the top of the page to see a list of all 250 Influencers and top Influencer posts of the day from Arianna Huffington, Richard Branson and Meg Whitman.

People can also still go to their tailored news page, which now has a more image-centric design consistent with the update profile pages. And users’ email digests will provide an overview of top Influencer posts, trending professional news, and Slideshare content all in one place.

The LinkedIn Today makeover and addition of channels are among the latest steps by LinkedIn to boost engagement on the site by ramping up the quantity and quality of its content offerings. Those efforts helped LinkedIn increase member page views (including mobile) 63% in the first quarter, based on the company’s internal metrics.

Getting users to spend more time with more content should also benefit the company’s ad business. In the first quarter, LinkedIn reported that ad revenue rose 56% to $74.8 million, or 23% of overall sales. Its membership increased to 218 million worldwide from 200 million at the end of 2012. The new LinkedIn today is rolling out to all English-speaking members this week.

COMMENTARY:   LinkedIn's new features include:

• New, simpler and modern design – Streamlined the look and feel of LinkedIn Today to make it easier for you to discover and share the news and information that matters most to you.
• Follow a Channel – You can follow more than 20 different channels ranging from topics such as Your Career, Economy, Social Impact, Big Ideas and Innovation, and Higher Education, with more channels to be added over time. Once you follow a channel, you will automatically see updates from that channel directly in your Homepage stream.
• New ways to sort content – You can easily navigate to exactly what you’re looking for with new sorting options, including:
  • Your News – Offers a customized LinkedIn Today page, which features the latest news from the channels and Influencers you follow.
  • Influencer Posts – Provides a quick overview of the top Influencer posts of the day.
  • All Influencers – Shows you our more than 250 Influencers in one place, sorted alphabetically and by number of followers, so you can easily follow someone.
  • All Channels – Displays our new channels so you can easily follow the professional topics that interest you.
• More relevant email digests – Your email digests will now offer a comprehensive overview of top Influencer posts, trending professional news, and Slideshare content all in one place.

Courtesy of an article dated May 8, 2013 appearing in MediaPost Publications OnlineMediaDaily and an article dated May 8, 2013 appearing in the LinkedIn Blog

WHEN DID SOCIAL MEDIA LOSE ITS WAY? [INFOGRAPHIC]

 

The early days of social media were a more innocent time. Most early adopters who showed up on a social network were just happy to have found a new online scene that wasn't ruled by time and place. Advice, stories, and experiences abounded.

Savvy business noticed the online hot spots, and they began to meet their consumers and potential customers on social networks.   According to HubSpot.

"They recognized the possibility of interacting with their consumers in a more personalized way (as people, not ad impressions), leading to an increase in time and budget spent by companies across social media channels."

But, in time, the one-on-one friendliness of social media began to erode. Companies using social media lost their way. Businesses forgot the early days of social media, and they turned to outdated, stodgy means of communicating (and, in some cases, they started outright broadcasting their messages). And consumers and potential clients stopped listening to those brands online.

Social media expert Gary Vayernchuk warns.

"You cannot underestimate people's ability to spot a soulless bureaucratic tactic a million miles away.  It's a big reason why so many companies that have dipped a toe in social media waters have failed miserably."

Just what happened over time is detailed in the following infographic by HubSpot, including...

• 81% of consumers have either unliked or removed a company's posts from their Facebook NewsFeed.
• 71% of consumers report being more selective about liking a company on Facebook than they were last year.
• 41% of consumers have unfollowed a company on Twitter.

However, social media can find its more personable roots again. Businesses can stop flooding social networks with their pitches, promotions, and ads; companies can instead start focusing on one-on-one interactions again and use tools to help scale those conversations.

To find out how companies can begin doing that, check out the following infographic.

Click Image To Enlarge

COMMENTARY:    I have warned my readers time and time again, that if a company does not make anything, and does not charge for you to use their website, then YOU are the product.   Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networks are all "freemium" businesses, whose principal source of revenues is advertising (86%).   They all work closely with advertisers and social media marketers to target customers that either "like" their brand, have said something positive about a brand in a social media update on their personal page, or have conducted searches for certain products that match those of the advertiser.  Today, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are using information we willingly provide as users to and third-party research firm data about our online behaviors (sites we visit) and products we purchase online or in brick-and-mortar stores, to target us.  

Having said this, the big three:  Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have all been investigated and fined, and placed on 20-year probations, by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for violating our privacy by tracking us as we surf online and even our GPS locations via our mobile phones and other mobile devices, and providing our most private information to advertisers and ad agencies for using in their targeting of us.  All of this was done without our permission.  Although these social networks have taken steps to protect our privacy, it is up to us to update our profile to determine just how much information you are now allowing these social networks to access and use in their marketing efforts.  

The Sad State of Social Media Privacy - @mdgadvertising.png

When social networks begin treating their users with respect, like real human beings, with real needs and having real problems, instead a "Product" (i.e. marketing data), there will continue to be mistrust and anxiety over social networks.   Let me just ask:  When was the last time that a social network actually thanked you for your patronage and loyalty to their network?  I don't ever remember receiving an email or IM from Zuck thanking me for being a long-term member.  In fact, they have all taken us for granted.  They think of us as numbers like "1 billion users," "desktop users," and "mobile users" as in the case of Facebook.  I would appreciate a picture of the founder of the social network greeting me with a:  "Thank you for visiting us again."   Anything that acknowledges that we even exist.         

Courtesy of an article dated May 14, 2013 appearing in MarketingProfs

THERE ARE OVER 1 MILLION MILLIONAIRES, WHERE DO THE RICHEST ONES LIVE, AND HOW MANY OF THEM ARE BILLIONAIRES

The Facebook IPO billionaires club (Click Image To Enlarge)

Twenty cities have more than 100,000 millionaires – but which has most? And where do the world's billionaires live?

Where do the world's wealthiest individuals live? Well, it depends if you're talking millionaires, multi-millionaires or billionaires, according to a new list of the global rich.

Click Image To Enlarge

Click Image To Enlarge

Tokyo may contain the most millionaires (US$), however London is the city with the highest number of multi-millionaires - defined as individuals with over $30m each. For the fattest of the fat cats, though, look to New York where 70 billionaires have made their home - or maybe one of their many global homes.

Click Image To Enlarge

The ranking of top global cities for millionaires, multi-millionaires and billionaires has been compiled by London based wealth consultancy WealthInsight using five years of data analysed by their team. So what insights can we glean from this latest rich list?

Great location-based data like this, however, often makes more sense displayed on a map. With Mapsdata, and thanks to the data being available alongside the article, it took us just a few minutes to create the interactive data visualizations below, and map the cities with the most millionaires and billionaires.

The world’s millionaires:

Click Image To Enlarge

The world's billionaires:

Click Image To Enlarge

COMMENTARY:  It does not surprise me that Tokyo, Japan has the most millionaires.  You have to be a millionaire just to live there.  And it does not surprise me that the New York City has the most billionaires.  After all, New York City is the financial capital of the world.  The place where millions are made and lost in one day.

Courtesy of an article dated May 8, 2013 appearing in The Guardian DataBlog and an article appearing in MapsData